Jets interview OCs Arthur Smith and Bobby Slowik for head-coaching job
Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sidelines in the first quarter during the preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Pittsburgh. Credit: Getty Images
The Jets interviewed two AFC offensive coordinators for their head-coaching position on Thursday, pushing the number of candidates for the job to 12.
And they’re not done yet.
Arthur Smith of the Steelers and Bobby Slowik of the Texans joined the still-growing list of candidates the Jets are considering for their vacancy.
They’ve also met with Ron Rivera, Mike Vrabel, Rex Ryan, Matt Nagy, Aaron Glenn, Mike Locksley, Steve Spagnuolo, Darren Rizzi, Jeff Ulbrich and Vance Joseph. The Patriots hired Vrabel as head coach.
The Jets also are expected to interview Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and 49ers quarterbacks coach Brian Griese.
Smith and the Jets have some history. He interviewed twice with them in 2021 for the head-coaching position that went to Robert Saleh. Smith was hired as the Falcons’ head coach that year and went 7-10 in each of his three seasons.
He also was one of the candidates that Saleh was considering in a senior offensive assistant role last season to oversee an offense that struggled under coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Smith wound up becoming the Steelers’ offensive coordinator.
Smith, 42, believes in establishing the running game, but the Steelers struggled late in the season. They lost their last five games — including at Baltimore in the Wild Card round — and didn’t score more than 17 points in any of them.
The Steelers were 23rd in total offense and 16th in points. It’s still better than the Jets, who were 24th in both categories.
Smith spent 10 seasons with Tennessee from 2011-20, his last two as offensive coordinator. The Titans were in the top three in rushing yards both seasons with Derrick Henry leading the attack. They reached the AFC Championship Game after the 2019 season.
During his Tennessee tenure, Smith was a defensive assistant/quality control coach, an offensive assistant/quality control coach, offensive line coach, assistant tight ends coach and tight ends coach.
Slowik, 37, is in his second season as Houston’s offensive coordinator. The New Jersey native comes from the Shanahan coaching tree, having worked for both Mike and his son Kyle.
The Texans were one of the NFL’s worst offenses before Slowik was hired in 2023. He was a hot candidate last season after his scheme led to quarterback C.J. Stroud being named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Texans weren’t nearly as explosive this season, but they had 429 yards in their 32-12 Wild Card win over the Chargers.
Slowik began his coaching career as a 24-year-old defensive assistant on Mike Shanahan’s staff in Washington in 2011. Kyle Shanahan hired Slowik as a defensive quality control coach in San Francisco in 2017. Slowik moved to the offensive side of the football in 2019.
He spent two seasons as an offensive assistant, one as a passing game assistant and one as a passing game coordinator, before going to Houston.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
